“I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV)
I grew up singing the hymns of the church. The old red hymnal, the old brown hymnal… that’s how my grandparents referred to the song books. In our church, we still have “the old brown hymnal” in the pews – although it’s technically called “The Cokesbury Hymnal.” We also have the blue book. That’s the one folks these days call the “new hymnal” even though it’s 31 years old.
As a teenager, I particularly gravitated to a hymn that stirred something within me. The music was catchy, but the phrasing of the verses is what always called to me. The basic message is simple: I don’t know this, I don’t know that, I don’t know about a lot of things… but I know Jesus.
I now realize those words come directly from the Book of Second Timothy. “I know whom I have believed,” the chorus begins, “and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” When today’s scripture popped up on my screen this morning, I was taken right back to #168 in the old brown hymnal. As I grabbed my hymnal and revisited the lyrics, I was reminded that there are many things I don’t know these days.
I don’t know why we continue to excel in division. I’m never going to be able to justify killing each other, and I’m never going to accept that hatred is just a part of life. The Holy Spirit of God has given us power, love and self-discipline.
I don’t understand why civility is lacking in our nation, and I cannot comprehend what race really has to do with anything. God created each of us as unique and beautiful and worthy of love. I don’t see how melanin can be a driving factor in determining sacred worth. Jesus has saved us and called us to a holy life. All of us.
I don’t know why we have let the Christian Church slip through the cracks of life, and I’ll never understand why we have turned our backs on the gathered worship of God in the name of “family time.” That practice has not been pandemic driven; that’s been recreationally driven and has been going on for years so, yeah... I just don’t know.
Here’s what I DO know: I know the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid. I know I am not ashamed of my witness and that my family time will be spent worshiping together. I know that I am called to serve God with no regrets, and I want to live into that. I know whom I have believed. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground. I know the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.
I suppose I don’t know all the things I don’t know. I’m just very excited to be affirmed by Paul and Timothy in the things I do know.
Singing the old hymns,
Pastor Beth
To read 2 Timothy, chapter 1, click here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=NIV
I grew up singing the hymns of the church. The old red hymnal, the old brown hymnal… that’s how my grandparents referred to the song books. In our church, we still have “the old brown hymnal” in the pews – although it’s technically called “The Cokesbury Hymnal.” We also have the blue book. That’s the one folks these days call the “new hymnal” even though it’s 31 years old.
As a teenager, I particularly gravitated to a hymn that stirred something within me. The music was catchy, but the phrasing of the verses is what always called to me. The basic message is simple: I don’t know this, I don’t know that, I don’t know about a lot of things… but I know Jesus.
I now realize those words come directly from the Book of Second Timothy. “I know whom I have believed,” the chorus begins, “and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” When today’s scripture popped up on my screen this morning, I was taken right back to #168 in the old brown hymnal. As I grabbed my hymnal and revisited the lyrics, I was reminded that there are many things I don’t know these days.
I don’t know why we continue to excel in division. I’m never going to be able to justify killing each other, and I’m never going to accept that hatred is just a part of life. The Holy Spirit of God has given us power, love and self-discipline.
I don’t understand why civility is lacking in our nation, and I cannot comprehend what race really has to do with anything. God created each of us as unique and beautiful and worthy of love. I don’t see how melanin can be a driving factor in determining sacred worth. Jesus has saved us and called us to a holy life. All of us.
I don’t know why we have let the Christian Church slip through the cracks of life, and I’ll never understand why we have turned our backs on the gathered worship of God in the name of “family time.” That practice has not been pandemic driven; that’s been recreationally driven and has been going on for years so, yeah... I just don’t know.
Here’s what I DO know: I know the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid. I know I am not ashamed of my witness and that my family time will be spent worshiping together. I know that I am called to serve God with no regrets, and I want to live into that. I know whom I have believed. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground. I know the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.
I suppose I don’t know all the things I don’t know. I’m just very excited to be affirmed by Paul and Timothy in the things I do know.
Singing the old hymns,
Pastor Beth
To read 2 Timothy, chapter 1, click here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=NIV